Stopping flu: the vaccination campaign begins

The anti-flu campaign is beginning on 28 October 2014. The extended good weather and fast stocking up, have allowed the health authority in Varese start early, in an attempt to reach all risk categories, for which Lombardy Region is providing free vaccinations.

As always, the people concerned are the over 65, children over the age of 6 months, adolescents and adults up to the age of 64, affected by diseases that increase the risk of complications, women in the second or third three-months of pregnancy, people suffering from specific respiratory, cardiac and circulatory diseases, diabetes, cancer and renal insufficiency. Health workers and people who work in constant contact with the public and animals are also included.

These people will be able to go to their local health authorities, at the times and days published on their websites.

Moreover, they will be able to visit their GPs, who have already received the doses. This year, Lombardy Region would like to vaccinate 85% of those entitled; this is an ambitious goal, considering that, last year, about 80,000 people (about 58% of the target) were vaccinated.

It is the elderly who are among the more neglectful. “We’re launching an awareness campaign in all recreation and day centres for the elderly, in an attempt to increase the vaccinations among this category,” the health authority director, Lucas Gutierrez, explained.

The flu that is coming, has not proven to be particularly virulent in the southern hemisphere, where it originates. “The symptoms are a high temperature, between 38 and 38.45 degrees, problems with the respiratory tract, muscle pain and headaches, which can be resolved in 5 days, although the aftereffects may last longer,” Dr Franca Sambo, of the Prevention Department, explained.

The Varese health authority has spent €300,000, the same sum as last year, despite 12,000 extra doses being requested, which have already been distributed, in preparation for the campaign. The vaccine was created in order to stop three viral strains: the AH1N1, the California virus that caused so much fear years ago, with “swine flu”, the AH3N2, Victoria and Texas, and the B Massachusetts.

“The flu vaccine is always recommended,” said Dr Sambo, “because it protects against more dangerous viral forms, than diseases defined ‘parainfluenzal’”. Every year, we have to involve the people because we still haven’t been able to destroy the influenza virus, as it continually mutates. Moreover, the vaccines we obtain always have a maximum cover of 6-7 months, and we can’t talk about long-term immunity.”

Like previous years, the flu peak should be in the 5th and 6th weeks of 2015. Last year, there were 90 serious cases, in Italy, with two deaths. “We remind you that good hygiene of your hands can also make a difference in the spread of the virus,” Stefano Taborelli, the health director, concluded, “because it is transmitted through the air, on the drops of saliva of anyone coughing and sneezing, and indirectly, through contact with hands contaminated with respiratory secretions.”

The cold weather, winter and flu are on their way.